Also from last year’s premiership team, Brian Lake and David Hale have retired and Matt Suckling is at the Western Bulldogs.

Hodge does not have to go back far to highlight Hawthorn’s dogged resilience and talented reserves.

He recalled how they won the 2014 flag without Sam Mitchell (hamstring) for seven rounds, Josh Gibson (chest) for eight rounds, Cyril Rioli (hamstring) who missed 13 games and Brian Lake (suspensions and calf) who managed just 11 appearances.

Coach Alastair Clarkson also was sidelined for five weeks with a serious illness.

“One thing we’ve always prided ourselves on is the depth at this football club,” Hodge said on Thursday.

“Through the middle part of 2014, we had Mitch, Lakey, Gibbo and Cyril all miss for long periods of time and it didn’t affect us.

“I think we won four of the next five (matches).

“So, you’ve got to adapt with the personnel you have and we have confidence in the blokes who are coming in.”

Hodge reeled off a list of young players, including Tim O’Brien, James Sicily and Jonathan O’Rourke, as ready replacements.

“We’ve got a good group of younger guys who can step up and play the role they need to,” he said.

As the Hawks try to equal Collingwood’s record of four straight flags, pundits point to their veterans as another potential weakness.